Rainy, muggy day doesn’t help hair, but does aid bats

San Diego Padres' Andy Parrino, left, watches his two-run single off New York Mets relief pitcher Manny Acosta in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 24, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

/ AP

San Diego Padres' Andy Parrino, left, watches his two-run single off New York Mets relief pitcher Manny Acosta in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 24, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

San Diego Padres' Andy Parrino, left, watches his two-run single off New York Mets relief pitcher Manny Acosta in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 24, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (/ AP)

I’m in New York City, on part of the Padres’ 10-day road trip, to see what life is like for professional baseball players on the road. I’ll be following the team while they’re in New York and Chicago to get a glimpse into what they do with their down time and how they stay mentally and physically fresh while pushing through a grueling trip.

Today was a very rainy, muggy day in New York City — really bad for my hair — and it was also proof of how these athletes are taxed throughout the season. The team got into New York around 4 a.m. Thursday morning after losing three in a row in St. Louis, and most players said their head didn’t hit their pillow until 5 or 6 a.m. They pretty much slept until the last possible second before leaving for Citi Field on the team bus at 1 p.m. Another game. Rinse and repeat. None were complaining — quite the opposite, actually. This is their life. They are used to this. They have to sleep when they can, relax when they can, relish whatever down time they get because it’s so sparse. It’s not given away easily.

I shot a video around Citi Field today and found a handful of Padres fans braving the rain while I walked through the stadium in Queens. I also found a few similarities between Petco Park and Citi Field. A stadium tour guide said that when Citi Field was built, concepts from ballparks all over the country were “borrowed” to form Citi Field’s identity. For example, the right-field overhang was designed based on the overhang in the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit, which was loathed by pitchers because of its ability to attract home runs. Citi Field has a few areas that are rumored to be modeled after Petco: A giant screen on the outside of the ballpark similar to the one in the Park at the Park, and also a Wiffle ball area for kids. Plus it has the Shake Shack, which is sort of like an East Coast version of Hodad’s. For experimental reasons, I had to try the fries and a chocolate-vanilla shake — that’s the reason I told my trainer — and while I’m partial to Hodad’s, I have to say I was NOT disappointed.

Padres: Getaway Day

Annie Heilbrunn takes you behind the scenes at Petco Park to show you what happens on "Getaway Day."

Annie Heilbrunn takes you behind the scenes at Petco Park to show you what happens on "Getaway Day."

One more similarity between the two parks? Fans who argue about the fences being too far out. A difference? The Mets brought their fences in at the end of last season. Hasn’t made much of a distinction yet. But that’s another story, and while I may be in the city that never sleeps, I eventually want to.

All in all, a great first day in New York City. I’ll be hitting the town with several players Friday, as well as a few wives, to get a more behind-the-scenes look on the road. Hopefully the rain will stop ... or you guys might see me making a cameo on Broadway, in The Lion King.

Don’t be surprised.

Editor’s note: U-T San Diego videographer Sharon Annie Heilbrunn is following the Padres through New York and Chicago. She will be filing occasional reports for the newspaper and numerous videos at

UTSanDiego.com. For more updates, follow her on Twitter: @annieheilbrunn